Ladies, let's face it: we've all been guilty of some pretty major makeup mishaps and are probably still guilty of a few now. Just thinking of how I used to do my makeup only a couple years ago makes me want to crawl in a hole and hide. Women love wearing makeup, and Lord knows I love it too, but I think sometimes we wear it in ways that don't flatter us or use it a means to mask our insecurities. I've been there, done that, and still do that from time to time. So I've decided this week to include my personal Ten Commandments for makeup and beauty. And before I go pointing fingers, I'm guilty of every single one of these, so I'm talking to myself here, too. But hey, you live and learn, am I right?
1. Thou Shalt Protect Your Skin. We hear it constantly because it's so important: our makeup will look so much better if we have pretty skin to start with. Make sure to include some SPF in your morning routine daily. Also be sure to get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, and maintain a consistent skincare routine. It's not going to be completely effortless in order to achieve beautiful skin, but the rewards are completely worth it.
2. Thou Shalt Never Forget to Moisturize. I know I just mentioned skincare, but not applying moisturizer before applying makeup allows for that dreaded clownish makeup look we never want. Moisturized skin means that the makeup can go on smoothly and look fresh and dewy, rather than having that thick, dry look.
3. Thou Shalt Always Blend. Nobody likes that infamous line of makeup on the jawline that we've all seen so many times. After applying foundation, or whatever makeup you choose, take a clean makeup sponge and blend the edges of your face to make sure there are no streaks or harsh lines. The same goes for eye makeup as well.
4. Thou Shalt Wear Bronzer Wisely. Bronzer is a great product for achieving a sunny glow, but it can go wrong in a hurry. Make sure not to use a bronzer too dark for your skin tone or a shade that's too orange. When applying bronzer, sweep it in the hollows of the cheeks, around the temples and the forehead, and along the jawline. Apply it in all the places the sun naturally hits our faces.
5. Thou Shalt Never Have Pancake Face. When I'm talking about pancake face, I'm talking about when women forget to apply any color to their lips, therefore allowing the lips to blend and completely disappear from the face. Even just a little nude pink lip balm will fix this problem.
6. Thou Shalt Apply Eyeliner Correctly. I am so guilty of this one, but I luckily learned my lesson. Ladies, wearing eyeliner on the top and bottom lash lines does not make our eyes look bigger. It only makes them look harsh, dark, and people are never looking at our beautiful eyes- they're looking at our eyeliner. Opt instead to skip the liner on the bottom lash line and apply an eye shadow instead for a softer, smokier effect. And remember what I said earlier: blend, blend, blend. Eye makeup is never pretty when it involves harsh lines.
7. Thou Shalt Remember the Brows. Sometimes we have thin or light brows, and if you're a thick-browed girl like me, sometimes makeup blends into our brows, making them look a lot lighter. If you don't have any of these problems, then you are blessed. If you do, just fill the brows with a powder that's a shade only a little darker than your brow color, or fill them with a pencil. Good brows support our face shape and flatter our pretty eyes nicely.
8. Thou Shalt Experiment. I understand experimenting with makeup can lead to whole worlds of bad makeup mishaps, but getting stuck with one look is no fun either. Play around with different colors on the eyes, lips, and cheeks. Play up different features you've never thought about highlighting before. Try out different color combinations. Trying out new looks keeps it fun and fresh!
9. Thou Shalt Compliment Yourself. Make it a step in your morning routine that's just as important as brushing your teeth: compliment yourself. Tell yourself you look beautiful, that your eyes are pretty today, etc. Taking a moment to love and appreciate yourself will start your day off on a positive note.
10. Thou Shalt Never Wear A Mask. I've sung this song so many times before, and I'll gladly sing it again: makeup is not a mask. It's always used to enhance and bring out your God-given beauty. Look in the mirror, find a feature you love about yourself (i.e. eyes, lips, cheeks, etc.), and play it up. Sure, some of these tips I've listed are my opinion or may seem silly, but this one is by far the most important.
We are beautiful women of God and we are called to embrace the beauty He has given us.
Isn't being His masterpiece such a lovely blessing?
Posts
